Asian Games vets hammer the rest

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – The Guangzhou Asian Games veterans continued to impose their will in various fronts as the national mainstays sustained their monopoly on the gold medal harvest halfway through the 2011 POC-PSC National Games yesterday.

Jessie Khing Lacuna, swimming for Bulacan, splashed his way to the center of the podium four times as Las Piñas’ Jasmine Alkhaldi went three-for-three at the Panaad pool.

At the nearby track and field stadium, long jump queen Marestella Torres of Laguna proved unstoppable in women’s triple jump, as did Olympian Eduardo Buenavista in the 10,000-meter run and Laos SEAG supremo Danilo Fresnido in men’s javelin throw.

The big guns also scored in billiards, led by Efren “Bata” Reyes and Asiad titlist Dennis Orcollo, who disposed of their lesser-fancied opponents to tow 32 others into the next round of men’s 9-ball singles at Gaisano Mall.

Eighteen-year-old Sheryll Contillo carted away four gold medals in rhythmic gymnastics (seniors) at the San Agustin College Gym, topping the hoop (19.075), ball (18.933) and ribbon (20.458) apparatus en route to the individual all-around plum (78.616).

Lacuna, 17, kicked off his gold rush by anchoring Bulacan’s conquest in the boys’ 17-18 200-meter freestyle relay in 2:07.70. Second was Taguig with 2:11.35 followed by Bacolod with 2:11.73.

The 2010 Youth Olympics participant then ruled the 200m free in 1:55.94, five seconds slower than his Phl mark (1:50.90) but enough to beat Manila’s Gian Daniel Berino (2:00.30) and Bacolod’s Karlo del Carmen (2:19.60). He later topped the 100m breaststroke (1:11.21) and the 50m butterfly (25.02) to become the most bemedalled swimmer so far.

“Okay lang naman yung time ko ngayon, makukuha pa rin yung target time sa future events (My time’s still okay but I think I can get my target in future meets leading to the SEA Games), said Lacuna, among the swimmers expected to carry the fight for Phl following the retirement of Miguel Molina.

YOG and Asiad campaigner Alkhaldi cruised to the girls’ 17-18 200m freestyle tiara with 2:08.91, beating LUSC’s Antoiniette Aquino (2:31.89). She later added the 50m fly (28.90) and 50m free (27.30) to her jewels.

“WE ARE NOT REALLY  prepared for this meet because we are focused for  SEA age group championship in June . Our goal here is to swim as best as we can,” she said.

Quezon City’s swimmers won four golds, courtesy of Philip Joaquin Santos (boys 10-under 200m free, 2:51.25), Dominic Leandrei Buhain (boys’ 11-12 200m free, 2:29.28), Pricila Loren Aquino (girls 13-14 200m free, 2:23.69), and Raissa Regatta Gavino (girls 11-12 100m breaststroke, 1:25.92).

Torres made a winning leap of 12.55m to cop her second mint at the expense of Baguio’s ex-Palaro standout Catherine Kay Santos (12.09m) and TMS Ship Agency’s Felyn Doloso (11.91m) to lead the Phl tracksters.

It was another day at the office for Olympian Eduardo Buenavista of PAF, who dominated the 10,000m (31:59.54) over teammate Julius Sermona (32:02.32) and Baguio’s Hermanie Sore (32.41.32); and Fresnido, who reigned in javelin (64.20m) over Laguna’s Dandy Gallenero (61.40m) and Kota Kinabalu’s Hafifie Bin Karim (58.90m).

Junior standout Patrick Unso shared the limelight as the son of track legend Renato Unso added the boys’ 400m hurdles (54.47) to his earlier romp in 110m hurdles.

Pool legend Reyes nipped Dennis Tugado, 9-5 while world No. 1 Orcullo blasted Romelio Arguelles, 9-2, to lead the opening-day winners in billiards.

Also advancing to the Last 32 were Jeffrey De Luna, Warren Kiamco and Jundel Mazon, who hacked out similar 9-1 wins over Romeo Toledo, Aldrin Magno, and Michael Lopez, respectively; Ramil Gallego, 9-3 winner over Leonardo Villacana; and Carlo Biado, who trounced Sandy Ferrer, 9-5.

National mainstays finished 1-2-3 in the 52-km individual time trial starting and ending at the Murcia East Elementary School. Mark John Galedo won the race in 48:52, edging Tomas Martinez (50:41) and Merculio Ramos (50:45).

Notes: At 11, Cheska Centeno from Zamboanga City is the youngest competitor in billiards, vying in women’s 9-ball singles against more experienced cuemasters like ex-world champ Rubilen Amit. “Hindi naman po pressured, basta mag-enjoy lang manalo o matalo (I don’t want to pressure myself, I just enjoy the game, win or lose),” said Centeno, who had previously tried her luck in qualifying stages of the Women’s World Pool Championship that Manila hosted....An eight-year-old local boy tried to register on-site for the billiards competitions but was thumbed down by technical officials. “Parang gusto lang magpa-picture kina Bata (Seems he just want to have his picture taken with Bata),” explained Phl coach Boyet Asonto.